# What is the best Thanksgiving side dish? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318 "2017-11-21T19:57:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/1 "2017-11-21T19:57:17Z")
Was going to make a poll but didn’t want to leave any options out. What’s the best? Only pick one. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/2 "2017-11-21T20:04:14Z")
Dressing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/3 "2017-11-21T20:04:19Z")
Stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/4 "2017-11-21T20:07:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Dressing. > [@TriPolar](#): > > Stuffing. I can never decide which one I like more! The thing is, it can range from sublime to inedible. But yeah, the good stuff rivals the best version of any other side. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/5 "2017-11-21T20:11:11Z")
Yeah, the stuffing. Although I think I’m going to use a _Southern Living_ recipe for cornbread stuffing this year, so I SHOULD call it “dressing.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/6 "2017-11-21T20:12:56Z")
Stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/7 "2017-11-21T20:13:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Stuffing. According to the Culinary Geek God himself, stuffing is evil. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/8 "2017-11-21T20:19:02Z")
Mashed potatoes. Put **down** those pitchforks… I never liked stuffing that much for some reason. Same with cranberry sauce. Actually, it’s not a family meal (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter for that matter) where I grew up if the first course isn’t…tortellini in chicken broth. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/9 "2017-11-21T20:19:44Z")
He retracted that statement later, with some waffling. We eat dressing all year long. Ditto mashed potatoes. Looking at the usual menu the only side dish that gets served exclusively at Thanksgiving is the Hot Pea Salad. So I vote for that. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/10 "2017-11-21T20:22:37Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Actually, it’s not a family meal (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter for that matter) where I grew up if the first course isn’t…tortellini in chicken broth. I’ve never attended an Italian-American family Thanksgiving, but I’ve heard the urban legends. First the soup appears; then a pasta dish or two or three; then a platter of meat cutlets…and just as you’re full to bursting, OUT comes the turkey and all the side dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/11 "2017-11-21T20:45:31Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I’ve never attended an Italian-American family Thanksgiving, but I’ve heard the urban legends. > > First the soup appears; then a pasta dish or two or three; then a platter of meat cutlets…and just as you’re full to bursting, OUT comes the turkey and all the side dishes. My friends growing up were Italians and yeah there was soup (pasta fagioli), lasagna and baked ziti and then a whole Turkey dinner. Save room for dessert. If it’s Christmas, add a ham to all that. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/12 "2017-11-21T21:02:44Z")
It’s all good, man. But if I had to pick one, it would be the green bean casserole. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/13 "2017-11-21T21:10:29Z")
Giblet gravy. It goes on stuffing, it goes on potatoes, it goes on rolls… OK, it’s not a side-dish in itself, but it’s the best thing besides the turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/14 "2017-11-21T21:16:09Z")
Mushy lima beans with lots of butter and salt. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/15 "2017-11-21T21:57:29Z")
Stuffing! Glad to hear I’m not the only one! ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/16 "2017-11-21T21:59:11Z")
Of the classics, yes, the stuffing. For my family, it’s my b.i.l.'s special mushroom rice. Hoykawow, that’s good! ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/17 "2017-11-21T22:02:22Z")
Dressing like my mama made. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/18 "2017-11-21T22:04:06Z")
Giblet gravy, poured liberally over all. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/19 "2017-11-21T22:12:29Z")
The stuffing as long as it cooked in the turkey . ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/20 "2017-11-21T22:16:24Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > The stuffing as long as it cooked in the turkey . If it’s not cooked in the turkey, it’s not stuffing. It’s dressing. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318.md?page=2)